Railway-switch stand.



No. 809,719. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906; E. L. MORGAN.

RAILWAY SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED 11.12.1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE;

RAILWAY-SWITCH STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed April 12, 1905. Serial No. 255,109.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD LAWRENCE MORGAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State ofArkansas, have invented a Railway-Switch Stand, of which the followingis a full and exact specification.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide a switch-stand witha safety attachment by means of which a danger-signal will be displayedin the event the switch is only partially thrown, termed a cooked orsplit switch, thus warning the engineer of an approaching train of thecondition of the switch in ample time to prevent accident, and toprovide that said danger-signal be automatically operated or thrown toposition before the switch can be moved from one position to another andremain until the switch is fully thrown and locked.

In an ordinary switch-stand provided with the usual target-wings andlamp and when the switch is cocked the target-wings and lamp are turnedto such a small extent that the engineer of an approaching engine isunable to distinguish the exact condition until he is so close upon theswitch that it is almost impossible to prevent an accident. Theemployment of my improvedswitch-stand, as will hereinafter appear, makesit impossible for the operator or switch-tender to leave a cooked switchwithout the fact being clearly shown by the display of thedanger-signal. Furthermore, accidents often occur from the imperfectcondition of the target-wings and lampthat is, in the case of the formerthe wings may become so dirty as to cause the engineer to confuse thetargets, and in the case of the lamp the same may be so dirty or burningso low as not to be discernible.

A further object of my invention, therefore, is to entirely obviatethese conditions by the employment of a semaphore for day-signaling, theposition of the arm indicating the condition of the switch, while fornight-signaling a reflecting medium is used in connection with thesemaphore, as hereinafter explained.

My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings andfully described in the following specification, and what I claim asnovel and desire to protect by patent is set forth in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch-standconstructed in accordance with my invention, the full lines indicatingthe position of the parts when the switch is properly thrown with themain track open, while the dotted lines show the position of theswitch-lever and signals when the switch is only partially thrown. Fig.2 is a plan view of the turn-table and platform upon which it ismounted. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig.2., Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the turn-table or disk. Fig. 5 isadetail sectional view of the upper end of the signaling device.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

The supporting -frame of my improved switch-stand comprises in thepresent in stance a standard A, a circular platform A at the upper endthereof, and a hollow post A which rises from the rear part of theplatform and is designed to carry the attachments, hereinafterdescribed.

B designates a turn-table or disk which is rotatably mounted on theupper side of the platform A, being pivotally connected thereto by ashaft C, to which latter it is fixed so that the operation of theturn-table or disk will also operate said shaft to shift theswitch-points. The shaft C extends above and below the turn -table,passing down loosely through the platform and through a guide-bracket aon the standard A, and at its lower end is cranked, as at c, as isusual, for the connection and operation of the rod 0, which extends tothe switch-points. Upward movement of this shaft C is prevented by afixed collar 0 thereon bearing against the under side of a boss a,formed on the platform. The upper part of the shaft above the platformcarries the usual target-wings and c and terminates in a squared end 0",to which the ordinary lamp-bracket is attached.

The turn-table or disk B is provided with an extension I), turned upwardat its outer end, as at b and said extension is provided witha slot k inwhich is pivoted, as at d, a lever D, by which lever the turn-table ordisk is operated. The slot 6 extends rearward in the turn-table or diska sufficient distance to receive the short end of the lever D when thelatter is disposed horizontally, and when said lever is in this positionthe under surface thereof is either flush with or above the lowersurface of the turn-table or disk, so that the latter may be turned. Forthe purpose of locking the operating-lever D when the device is properlyset to open either the main track or siding the platform A is providedwith slots a and a in its periphery corresponding in size with across-section of that part of the lever which is adapted to enter saidslots when the said lever is swung downward in a substantially verticalposition, and to more securely lock the lever in this latter position itis provided with a loop cl, which extends through a slot 1) in theupturned portion of the extension I) and receives an ordinary padlock.

In the operation of so much of the device as described it is necessaryto first raise the lever to a horizontal position, so that it will clearthe platform and permit the turn-table or disk to be turned, and afterthrowing the switch it is locked by first engaging the lever in the slotbelow in the platform and then securing the same by the padlock. In thisoperation the target-wings and lamp are turned, as usual, to indicatethe position of the switch. It is obvious, therefore, that the levercannot be thrown to a vertical position to lock the switch-stand untilthe same has arrived at one of the slots in the platform, and it is thepurpose of my invention to provide certain safety devices which areoperated automatically by the operation of the lever'and turn-table ordisk, which devices I shall now proceed to describe. Pivoted in bracketsa on the under side of the platform A is a rocking device, in thepresent instance a yoke E, the rear end of which is disposed beneath thehollow post A while the front end carries a block 2, which passes upwardthrough an extension of the slot a in the platform and is adapted-toalso pass into the slot biin the turn-table or disk B, and when ro-"""]-ecting into this latter slot the rear end 0 the yoke 1s in itslowermost position. To the rear end of this yoke is connected a rod f,which extends upward through the hollow post A and is attached at itsupper end to a semaphore-blade G, the latter being pivoted near its rearend, as at g, in the head of the 0st A The rear end of the semaphoreladeG is disk-shaped, and said blade is provided with a depending portion orshutter g, adapted to screen a reflector, hereinafter described. Thesemaphore-blade is thrown to its extreme positions, as shown in full anddotted lines, Fig. 1, by the operation of the yoke, the lowermostposition indicating that the main line is open with a clear road aheadand the uppermost position indicating that there is danger and thattherefore the train must stop. The forward end of the yoke is permitteda complete upward movement only when the turn-table or disk is arrangedwith the slot disposed immediately above the block e, so that the lattercan enter said slot, and when the parts are in this position thecondition of the switch is such that the main line is open. Now uponbringing the lever to a horizontal position the short end thereofcontacts with the block of the yoke and the latter is rocked, throwingthe blade to its uppermost position indicating danger, and when theturn-table or disk is turned to any extent the forward end of the yokewill be held depressed by reason of the block thereon engaging the underside of said turntable or disk, thus keeping the semaphoreblade in thedanger? position until the switch is again thrown to open the main line.In order to indicate that the switch is thrown to open the side track,the under side of the turn-table or'disk is provided with a recess 6,disposed with relation to the movement of the turn table or disk so thatwhen the switch is properly thrown to open the side track said recesswill be above the block 6 of the yoke E and permit a limited movement ofthe same or to such an extent that the semaphore-blade will be disposedhorizontally. In this latter position of the turn-table the lever may belocked by engaging the notch a in the platform. It will be understood,of course, that the recess 1), as in the case of the slot N, is of suchsize with respect to the block 6 that the latter will not enter the sameuntil the switch is thrown to the extent to properly shift theswitch-points and that therefore in the event of a cocked switch thesemaphore-blade would indicate the fact. Near the upper end of the postA is a reflecting medium,'comprising a tube I, having a reflector i inthe rear end thereof, with the front end open' to the rays of light fromthe headlight of' an approaching engine. This reflecting medium is sodisposed with relation to the shutter g on the semaphore-blade that whenthe latter is in its lowermost positionthat is, to indicate an open maintrack or clear roadsaid reflecting medium will be exposed and serve as anight-signal. On the other hand, when the blade G is thrown to eitherof-its other positions the shutter will screen the reflecting medium,and the absence of the reflected light will be taken to mean that thereis danger ahead and the engineer must stop.

I lay no specific claim herein to the reflecting medium described,inasmuch as the same forms the subject-matter of a prior applicationfiled July 15, 1904, Serial No. 216,718.

The ordinary target-wings herein shown at the upper end of the shaft 0may be omitted,

normally depressed by the weight of the rod f and the pivoted blade G,so that said yoke will operate automatically to throw the blade to itshorizontal and lowermost positions when the switch is properly thrown,or, in other words, when the slot b and the recess b are disposed topermit the forward end of said yoke to enter the same, also that theyoke is automatically operated by the lever D and engagement with theunder side of the disk or member B when the switch is thrown from oneposition to the other, whereby to throw the blade G to the dangerposition. The operation of the signaling device is therefore entirelyautomatic.

In order to provide for more positively operating the pivoted yoke Ewhen the switch is thrown to open the main line, the lever D is providedwith a lugd which is adapted to engage with and lift the forward end ofthe yoke when the lever is swung down.

Having thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to theprecise construction herein shown and described, for it is obvious thatthe parts may be altered or changed without sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention, all within the spirit and scope of myclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting-frame, of amember for operating the switch-points, an operating-lever for saidmember, means for locking the lever in the positions to which the switchmay be thrown, a signaling device, and means for operating the latterautomatically and independently of the operating-lever when the switchis fully thrown.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting-frame, of amember for operating the switchpoints, a pivoted operatinglever for saidmember, means for locking said pivoted lever in the positions to whichthe switch may be thrown, a signaling device, and means for operatin thelatter automatically when the pivoted lever is in position to be lockedand to hold the signaling device in an operative position durin themovement of the switch-operating member from one position to another.

3. In a switch-stand, the combination with a supporting-frame andsignaling device, of a movable member for operating the switchpoints andprovided with recesses in the under side thereof, and a pivoted membercounterbalanced so as to operate the signaling device and so that oneend thereof will engage the under side of the aforesaid member and enterthe recesses therein.

4. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting-frame havingnotches therein, a disk for operating the switch-points rotatable onsaid frame and provided with a slot, a lever pivoted in said slot andadapted to engage the notches in the supportingframe, a pivoted memberone end of which is adapted to engage the disk and enter the slottherein, and a signaling device connected to said pivoted member.

5. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting-frame havingnotches therein, a disk for operating the switch-points rotatable onsaid frame and provided with a slot, a lever pivoted in said slot andadapted to engage the notches in the supportingframe, a member pivotedbeneath the rotatable disk with one end engaging the under side thereofand having a portion adapted to enter the slot therein, and a signalingdevice connected to the pivoted member.

6. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting-frame havingnotches therein, a disk for operating the switch-points rotatable onsaid frame and provided with a slot and a recess at different points, alever pivoted in the slot, a member pivoted beneath the disk so that oneend of the former will engage the under side of the latter and enter theslot and recess therein, and a signaling device connected to the pivotedmember.

7. In a switch-stand, the combination with the supporting frame havingnotches therein, a disk rotatably mounted on the frame and adapted tooperate the switch-points, said disk having a slot and a recess atdifferent points, a lever pivoted in the slot and adapted to engage thenotches in the supporting-frame, a yoke pivoted under the disk so thatone end thereof will engage the under side of the disk and enter theslot and notch therein, said end of the yoke beingadapted to be engagedby the lever when the latter is swung upon its pivot, and a signalingdevice connected to the yoke.

8. In a switch-stand, the combination with the platform having notchestherein, a disk rotatable on the platform and adapted to operate theswitch-points, said disk having a slot therein, a lever pivoted in theslot and adapted to engage the notches in the platform, a yoke pivotedunder the disk and having a portion adapted to enter the slot in thedisk in the path of the movement of the pivoted lever, a lug on saidlever adapted to engage the yoke, and a pivoted signal-blade orsemaphore connected to the yoke and oper ated thereby.

9. In a s\vitcl1stand, the combination with the supporting-framecomprising a platform and an upright or post, said platform havingnotches therein, a disk rotatably mounted on the platform for operatingthe switch-points and having a slot therein, a lever pivoted in saidslot and adapted ,to engage the notches in the platform, a yoke pivotedunder the In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of 10 two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD LAWRENCE MORGAN.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. E. TAYLOR, GERARD BRAEOKEL.

